Sorry I've been away....

Hello my faithful followers....if any of you are still out there. :)  I know I have been a major blog SLACKER, and I truly apologize for that!  Life is just busy busy, but great, and time has escaped me. But, no more, I am back on the blogging train and plan to (try to) be a better blogger!

So, since it has been so long since my last post, this one is going to be a bit of a summary as to what has been going on in the Happy Hendricks Home for the last couple of months. :)  Here goes...

Well, as you all know, we are homeowners and are LOVING NJ....I know, I know, I never thought I would hear myself say that either, but I'm telling you folks, Jersey City, and CANCO specifically is where it is at!  It really is the best of both worlds!  We work in NYC everyday, the PATH train is an easy commute so it takes about the same amount of time, but then we get to come home to an awesome big space, I can do laundry any time day or night and I don't have to worry about any little critters (besides Maggie Lu) greeting me when I get in.  Plus, our neighbors are absolutely fabulous and that my friends is something that we truly cherish!  We have been trying to get our place together, and do plan on having a housewarming sometime soon, but for now, pictures will have to suffice. :)

Our living room from above

side view

Guest bedroom....ready and waiting for some visitors :)

We "elfa-ed" our laundry closet and I think its pretty awesome! :)

Kitchen side view with our island

Our bedroom....a little dark, but this is all I had for now 

November not only brought us into a new place, but it also brought me into a new job!  Yup, you are looking (well, maybe not looking, but reading about) one of the newest instructors at Physique 57!  I am officially no longer an NYC nanny (other than the odd babysitting jobs for the munchkins that I love and could not never see again) and have entered the realm of upscale, boutique fitness!  I have to say, I absolutely LOVE it!!  I think it falls right up my alley, I get to work out everyday, motivate clients on their journey to a healthier lifestyle and best of all.....I get to do all this while on a headset mic!  Oh yeah! But really, it is a great job and I feel like I am really doing what I have always wanted to do! I even started in the nic of time to be able to attend my first ever company Christmas party....and we got to bring dates!  Yes!!!  (The Limited could learn a thing or two regarding that topic ;))  

Me and Matt getting ready to party Physique style!

This is my training buddy Jessica, she got me thru some of the tough spots while we were in the midst of training/working out/wracking our brains 15 hours a week

My trainer Mandy....the one who taught me the ways of the world according to P57 :)

All of the Instructors!

The 4 newest P57 Instructors....Brigitte, Jessica, Laura and Me!

December was an exciting month not only because it was Holiday time and we had our annual Cali trip for Christmas to look forward to but also because my little bro proposed to his girlfriend!!!! Yes, you heard me!!!! Jon is engaged and I couldn't be happier!!!  Stephanie is a gem and I am so excited to have her as my sis (or SIL as she likes to call me).  She was one of my bridesmaids and has been part of the family for so long, so it was only a matter of time, but we were all so thrilled and excited none the less! And of course, as you can imagine, my mom is on cloud 9 with another wedding to help plan!

This is the spot where he proposed :)

They carved their initials in the bench....love, love it! :)

Christmas with the fam was wonderful as usual!  Even though we said we were going to keep it small this year since we had all made big purchases right around gift shopping time (our condo, Steph's ring, and my mom's new car), it ended up being the fun gift giving bonanza it is every year.  My mom still likes to shower us with gifts as though we were still 8 and 6 years old....hey, I'm not complaining ;-), I just can't even imagine what it will be like when we have kids! 

Still in NJ with our little Christmas tree from my mom :)

The newly engaged couple with their Xmas tree

Christmas morning - A sister, a brother, a husband, a brother-in-law and 3 pups....Santa was busy!

The boys and their bod....wouldn't be a Christmas without "bod" in their stockings

Me and Jon....oh yeah, we love Christmas!

Dad loving his new Polo zip up!  He's the only man I know that can get away with wearing that color :)

Mom was very excited about this little blue box :)

Tiffers and Mags ready for the ride to Grandma and Papa's in their car seat

Me and Matt at G & P's

The next generation of kiddos! Natters, Andrew, Landon and Bailey

The newly engaged couples....2 weddings coming up within the year! 

Some "Just Dance" Wii action the day after Xmas with my dad's side of the fam

Mom and Aunt Christina were really getting into it

Jon and Dad...the ultimate competition!!

Once we got back from Cali (which took a little more work than planned due to the crazy blizzard in NYC and everyone in the country's flights being cancelled, including ours) we spent the New Year with good friends of ours, Matt and Lauren Wickert, and our neighbors down in our community "chill room."  It was my perfect kind of New Year!  Didn't even have to leave our building!!

In January my mom came to visit!  She was very excited about all the recent storms that we have been having because of all the snow that was left on the ground, much different than her 70 degree Cali January.  We had a great time going out to eat, roaming around the city and playing in the snow.

Lunch with mom at Eataly

Playing in the snow in front of our building

Dinner with Mom and Matt

At Liberty State Park...great view of Lady Liberty! :)

:)

<3

Mom's snow angel

The Hendricks Fam with our new NJ plates....we're officially New Jersey drivers, please don't honk at us ;-)

Me and Magsters in the snow

Mom with her Grandpuppy :)

And that my friends brings us up to February.  Phew!  I think you are all pretty much caught up!  Matt and I had a lovely 2nd Married Valentine's Day.  We decided to fore go the expensive dinner out and cooked at home instead.  Crab stuffed Salmon with shrimp and corn on the cob was a pretty good meal made by yours truly, if I do say so myself!  We have some more fun stuff going on in the next couple of weeks, so I'll be sure to be a better blogger and keep you all filled in!  Until next time....

Happy Hump Day!

xoxox